SonOpt: Sonifying Bi-objective Population-Based Optimization Algorithms

Abstract

We propose SonOpt, the first (open source) data sonification application for monitoring the progress of bi-objective population-based optimization algorithms during search, to facilitate algorithm understanding. SonOpt provides insights into convergence/stagnation of search, the evolution of the approximation set shape, location of recurring points in the approximation set, and population diversity. The benefits of data sonification have been shown for various non-optimization related monitoring tasks. However, very few attempts have been made in the context of optimization and their focus has been exclusively on single-objective problems. In comparison, SonOpt is designed for bi-objective optimization problems, relies on objective function values of non-dominated solutions only, and is designed with the user (listener) in mind; avoiding convolution of multiple sounds and prioritising ease of familiarizing with the system. This is achieved using two sonification paths relying on the concepts of wavetable and additive synthesis. This paper motivates and describes the architecture of SonOpt, and then validates SonOpt for two popular multi-objective optimization algorithms (NSGA-II and MOEA/D). Experience SonOpt yourself via https://github.com/tasos-a/SonOpt-1.0 .